Power machine



y 1934. w. F. BROWN 8,843

POWER MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR in M03. Y

W. F. BROWN POWER MACHINE May 15, 1934.

Filed Sept. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 MW 0 4 m w 3 v LQ W N 2 a m A 5 a 3 h 7 Z 3 7// Z Y H r E 3 v W B Z w 4; w A 7 M 8 m. 2 J w w 4 7 W W W fl 4 M M E 1 a, f1 0 g Z Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 26 Claims.

This invention relates to power machinery in general. More particularly the invention is concerned with steam engines, internal combustion engines, and the like.

Special objects of the invention are to efiect as nearly as practicable a continuous application of power without reversal of piston or equivalent structures, and, in the case of steam engines and the like, to utilize the maximum expansive power of the motive fluid.

Additional important objects of the invention are to obtain the objects above stated in a relatively simple, compact and practical form of apparatus.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts hereinafter disclosed and broadly and particularly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part 20 of this disclosure illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention but are not to be taken as limiting the invention to such particular form or use.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and part sectional view illustrating the invention as embodied in the form of a steam engine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the power wheel, taken on substantially the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a further enlarged broken sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail of the cut-off valve closing lever.

The main working part of the apparatus comprises a wheel 7 which in its peripheral portion has an annular chamber 8 of circular or other cross section.

Within this chamber there is located a stationary head or piston 9, the mounting of which is effected by a narrow neck portion 10 extending out through a relatively narrow slot 11 in the periphery of the wheel. This head may be equipped with piston rings or other suitable packing devices 12 and, in case of a steam engine, as in the present illustration may be equipped with ports or passages 13 for the motive fluid.

For that portion of the circle in which the motive fluid is active, the slot in the wheel is sealed by a flexible band or strap 1% which rides in a guide groove 15 in the periphery of the wheel, formed partly at opposite sides of the slot therein.

In the illustration, the sealing band is in the form of a continuous belt, running from the first power wheel over a second power wheel 16.

The motive fluid admitted through the stationary head acts against a piston or abutment 17 may be geared together and power be taken ofi which at the proper time is retracted to clear the stationary piston and is automatically projected in front of that piston to take up the pressure of the motive fluid.

In the illustration, two power pistons 17 are provided at diametrically opposite stations on the wheel, sliding radially in boxes 18 and controlled by rods 19 having lugs 20 cooperating with a relatively stationary cam 21. This cam as shown in Fig. 1 serves to retract the pistons as they pass over the top-center position and to drop the pistons out ahead of the stationary piston as they pass the lower dead center position, the latter action being aided by the springs 22.

Admission of the motive fluid is governed automatically in the illustration by valve gear comprising a slide valve 23 in the steam line 24 actuated by the cam mechanism 25. The points of opening and cut oil of this valve gear may be adjusted if desired for power purposes and a throttle valve may be provided in the power line as indicated at 26.

The flexible band may be of steel or other material suited to the working conditions of the engine and the same is flexible enough to closely seat and seal the slot in the periphery of the power wheel. In Fig. 1, it will be seen that this band slides over the back or outside of the stationary piston, sealing the annular expansion chamber from a position in back of the stationary piston clear around to the upper side of the wheel. Also it will be noted in this View that the power piston slides out closely over the face of the stationary piston, cooperating with the walls of the expansion chamber and with the sealing band to form a steam chamber which will remain closed until the band uncovers the slot at the top of the wheel and the sliding piston is withdrawn by the cam. Exhaust of steam may be eifected by either one or the other or by both of these mechanisms. In the illustration, the band opens the slot before retraction of the sliding piston is initiated but it will be obvious that this order may be reversed or both may act simultaneously. The uncovered portion of the wheel may be of any desired extent, a full 180 or more, thus providing ample space for a sufliciently rigid neck to support the stationary piston. This open portion of the wheel may be encased in a suitable exhaust chamber. Lubrication is easily effected, particularly so since the rotation is continuous and always in the one direction. The power may be taken off at the shaft 2'7 of the first power wheel or if desired the two wheels from the other wheel, or in fact from both wheels. The base and supporting neck for the stationary piston may all be located in the space between the two wheels so as not to add to the bulk of the machine. The sliding vanes or pistons may be made relatively light in weight so as to operate easily and smoothly and may be suitably packed steam or fluid tight. While two power wheels are shown, it will be understood that any number of power wheels may be employed, on different shafts or mounted on the same shaft and that if desired, both wheels as shown, may be power wheels, the single band in this latter case then serving to seal the slots in both wheels.

The band may be guided to hold the slot closed for a greater or a less arc, depending upon the character of the motive fluid or the character of the engine. The valve gear, etc. also will vary depending upon th type of machine, etc. The term engine has been used in a broad sense, and the other terms employed herein have been used in a broad descriptive sense rather than in a limited way, except possibly for such limitations as may be imposed by the state of the prior art. Thus while the invention has been particularly disclosed in its operation as a motor, it will be understood that the same may possibly be used for other purposes, such as a pump or the like; for example, the power wheel at the right in Fig. 1, if rotated in the same direction as when operated as a motor, that is left handedly, it will operate as a suction pump, the vanes 1'7 as they are shifted out in front of the stationary piston head 9 then serving as pistons creating suction in the passage 13 through the stationary head.

The slot sealing band may be deflected to enclose a greater are or" the wheel, so as to hold the annular working chamber sealed for a greator portion of the revolution, as much as approximately 300 in which event, only one sliding piston would be employed. The valve gear and other details will be designed to meet particular requirements and for that reason, such mechanism is indicated only in a general way in the illustration, it being noted that earn on the rim of the wheel eiiects the opening of the steam valve 23 by engagement with the rocking valve actuating lever 23 and that the shut-ofi is effected by engagement of cams 29 on the spokes of the wheel with a valve rocker 30 on the end of rock shaft 31, carrying a cam 32 at its inner end acting through a push link 33 on one arm of bell crank lever 34 connected through link 35 with an arm 36 on the end of rock shaft 37, which mounts at its opposite end the valve opening rocker 28. By shifting the cut-off rock shaft through the medium of an adjusting lever 38, the point of cut-ofi and hence the power of the engine may be varied at will.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the character disclosed, com prising in combination, a wheel having an an nular chamber with a slot therein, a flexible, travelling band traversing said wheel and sealing said'slot for a portion of the rotation of the wheel, a stationary head within and having a portopening into said chamber and having a supporting neck extending through an uncovered portion of the slot, a movable piston within the chamber and means for automatically retracting said movable piston to clear the stationary piston in the rotation of the wheel.

2. A machine of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a rotating wheel having a slotted annular chamber, a flexible band encircling the wheel and closing said slot for a portion of the revolution of the wheel, sliding vanes mounted in the wheel for closing the chamber in conjunction with said encircling band and a stationary piston entered through the uncovered portion of the slot in the chamber and fluid passage means open to the closed portion of the chamber between the vanes and stationary piston.

3. A machine of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a rotating wheel having a slotted annular chamber, a flexible band encircling the wheel and closing said slot for a portion of the revolution of the wheel, sliding vanes mounted in the wheel for closing the chamber in conjunction with said encircling band, a stationary piston entered through the uncovered portion of the slot in the chamber, means for retracting and projecting the sliding vanes to clear the stationary piston and to close the chamber in front of the stationary piston and valve gear controlling fluid in the closed space between the stationary piston, flexible slot closing band and movable vanes.

4. A machine of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a rotating wheel having a slotted annular chamber, a flexible band encircling the wheel and closing said slot for a portion of the revolution of the wheel, sliding vanes mounted in the wheel for closing the chamber in conjunction with said encircling band, a stationary piston entered through the uncovered portion of the slot in the chamber and said stationary piston being ported for flow or" fluid in that portion of the chamber sealed by the encircling band.

5. A machine of the character disclosed, com prising in combination, a power wheel andan idler, an endless band encircling the two, the power wheel having an annular chamber slotted in the peripheral portion of the same and said slot being closed by said band for a portion of the rotation of the wheel, a piston mounted to slide radially in the power wheel to close the chamber in cooperation with the encircling band, a head within the chamber and having a supporting neck extending out through a portion of the slot uncovered by the encircling band, means controlling flow of fluid in the space between the stationary head and sliding piston covered by the encircling band and means for automatically retracting the sliding piston to clear the stationary head in the rotation of the wheel.

6. A machine of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a power wheel and an idler, an endless band encircling the two, the power wheel having an annular chamber slotted in the peripheral portion of the same and said slot being closed by said band for a portion of the rotation of the wheel, a piston mounted to slide radially in the power wheel to close the chamber in cooperation with the encircling band, a head within the chamber and having a supporting neck extending out through a portion of the slot uncovered by the encircling band, means controlling flow of fluid in the space between the stationary head and sliding piston covered by the encircling band and means for automatically retracting the sliding piston to clear the stationary head in the rotation of the wheel, the supporting structure for the stationary head being located between the two wheels aforesaid.

7. A machine of the character disclosed, comprising in combination wheels on parallel axes, an endless band encircling said wheels, chambers llti in said wheels having slotted portions closed by the encircling band about the outer portions of the wheels and open in the space between the wheels and power fluid supplying means entered through said open slot portions of the chambers in the wheels including stationary pistons in the chambers having reduced supporting necks extending through the open portions of the slots and pistons in the chambers of the wheels retractable to clear said stationary pistons.

8. Power apparatus comprising a rotating wheel structure having an annular chamber slotted and grooved about the periphery of the same, a flexible band seated in said groove, travelling with said wheel structure and sealing said slot for a portion of the rotation of the wheel, a sliding vane mounted in the wheel to intercept that portion of the chamber sealed by the encircling band, a ported stationary head in the chamber and having a supporting portion extending out through an uncovered portion of the slot and means for controlling fluid passage through saidv ported stationary piston.

9. Apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising a rotating wheel structure having an annular chamber slotted through the peripheral portion of the wheel, a ported abutment head disposed in said annular chamber and having aneck portion extending out through the peripheral slot in the wheel, an abutment member carried by the wheel and shiftable in the annular chamber to clear the first abutment and a flexible band encircling and travelling with the wheel and sealing the slot therein throughout a predetermined arc of rotation of the wheel.

10. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering said peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another arc of travel to leave the slot llIlCOVBIEd in the range of said second arc of travel, a ported stationary head located in the annular chamber and having a supporting neck extending through said uncovered portion of the slot in the wheel structure and a cooperating abutment carried by the wheel structure retractable to clear the ported stationary head.

11. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering said peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another arc of travel to leave the slot uncovered in the range of said second arc of travel, and piston means cooperating with the overriding portion of the flexible band and means for controlling fiow of fluid in the covered portion of the annular chamber.

12. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering sad peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another are of travel to leave the slot uncovered in the range of said second arc of travel, a head within the annular chamber and having a supporting neck portion extending out through the uncovered part of the slot, a piston sliding in the wheel structure across the annular chamber into cooperative relation with said slot closing portion of the overrunning band, means effective in the slot uncovered arc of travel for retracting said piston to clear the head aforesaid and means controlling fluid in the covered portion of the chamber.

13. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering said peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another are of travel to leave the slot uncovered in the range of said second arc of travel, and said wheel structure having a groove formed partly at opposite sides of said slot in the peripheral portion thereof for receiving and guiding the band in sealing engagement over the slot and means controlling fluid in the covered portion of the chamber, including a ported abutment and a cooperating abutment, one shiftable to clear the other.

14. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering said peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another are of travel to leave the slot uncovered in the range of said second arc of travel, and shoulders at opposite sides of the slot in the wheel structure for guiding the band in sealing engagement over the slot and means controlling fluid in the covered portion of the chamber, including a ported abutment and a cooperating abutment, one shiftable tov clear the other.

15. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band running over the wheel structure and covering said peripheral slot through an arc of travel of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure through another are of travel to leave the slot uncovered in the range of said second arc of travel, means for entering a power fluid through said uncovered slotted portion of the wheel structure, including a stationary head within the annular chamber, a retractable piston operating in the chamber in cooperation 13 with the slot covering portion of the sealing band and adjustable valve gear for controlling the power fluid.

16. Power apparatus comprising in combination, wheels on parallel axes, an endless flexible belt encircling said wheels, chambers in said wheels and having slotted peripheral portions closed by encircling portions of the endless belt and open in the space between the wheels and means for entering power fluid through said 149 uncovered portions of the slots between the wheels including ported abutments in said chambers and opposed abutments carried by the wheels and shiftable to clear said ported abutments.

17. In combination, a power wheel having an annular chamber and a slot opening from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel, a piston element in said annular chamber, a flexible band running over a part of the 150 circumference of said wheel and covering the slot in such part of the wheel circumference and uncovering the slot in the remaining portion of the wheel circumference and means comprising an abutment entered through the uncovered portion of the slot for introducing power fluid for cooperation with the piston element in the covered portion of the slot.

18. In combination, a rotating power wheel having an annular chamber and a slot opening from said'chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel, a piston element in said annular chamber, a stationary head in'the annular chamber and having a supporting portion entered through the peripheral slot, a flexible slot closing band extending from the stationary head about a portion of the periphery of the wheel and closing the slot throughout such peripheral portion of the wheel means at the uncovered portion of the slot for passing fluid in the slot covered portion of the chamber and means for holding said flexible band in flexed position closely covering said peripheral portion of the slot.

19. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band encircling a portion of the wheel structure, covering said peripheral slot in such encir- I cled portion of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure to leave the peripheral slot uncovered through another are of wheel travel, opposed abutments in the annular chamher, one carried by the wheel structure and the 2' other independently supported by a mounting extending out through the uncovered portion of the slot, said abutments cooperating with the encircling portion of the flexible band and being relatively movable to enable clearance 01' oneby the other in the rotation of the wheel structure, means for automatically relatively shifting said abutments and means for admitting fluid into the covered portion of the chamber.

20. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band encircling a portion of the wheel structure. covering said peripheral slot in such encircled portion of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure to leave the peripheral slot uncovered through another are of wheel travel, opposed abutments in the annular chamber, one carried by the wheel structure and the other independently supported by a mounting extending out through the uncovered portion of the slot, said abutments cooperating with the encircling portion of the flexible band and being relatively movable to enable clearance of one by the other in the rotation of the wheel structure, means for automatically relatively shifting said abutments, said wheel structure having an annular groove formed partly at opposite sides of the peripheral slot and closely receiving the encircling portion of the flexible band to confine the same in sealing cooperation with the slot and means for admitting fluid into the covered portion of the chamber.

21. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band encircling a portion of the wheel structure, covering said peripheral slot in such encircled portion of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure to leave the peripheral slot uncovered through another are of wheel travel, opposed abutments in the annular chamber one carried by the wheel structure and the other independently supported by a mounting extending out through the uncovered portion of the slot, said abutments cooperating with the encircling portion of the flexible band and being relatively movable to enable clearance of one by the other in the rotation of the wheel structure, means for automatically relatively shifting said abutments, said peripheral slot being of less width than the annular chamber and the wheel structure having a seat for the flex ible band extending to opposite sides of said slot to enable the band to properly close the slot throughout the peripheral portion with which it is engaged and means for admitting fluid into the covered portion of the chamber.

22. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber and a slot extending from said chamber out through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a flexible band encircling a portion of the wheel structure, covering said peripheral slot in such encircled portion of the wheel structure and separated from the wheel structure to leave the peripheral slot uncovered through another are of wheel travel, opposed abutments in the annular chamber, one carried by the wheel structure 1 and the other independently supported by a mounting extending out through the uncovered portion of the slot, said abutments cooperating with the encircling portion of the flexible band and being relatively movable to enable clearance of one by the other in the rotation of the wheel structure and means for automatically relatively shifting said abutments, a second similar wheel structure journalled parallel with the axis of the first wheel structure, the flexible band extending about the two wheel structures and similar automatically clearing relatively shiftable abutments .for said second wheel structure and whereby the flexible encircling band is a cooperating part of the two wheel structures and means for admitting fluid into the covered portions of said chamber.

23. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber open through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a relatively stationary head in said annular chamber and having a supporting portion extending out through the open peripheral portion of the annular chamber, a flexible band encirclinga portion of the wheel structure and covering the annular chamber in such encircled part of the wheel structure, a vane carried by the wheel structure and shiftable from a position clear of the annular chamber to a position intercepting the annular chamber and means for automatically effecting the retraction of said vane in the uncovered arc of movement of the wheel structure and the extension of the vane into cooperative relation with the band in the covered are of movement of the wheel structure and means for admitting fluid into the covered portion of the chamber.

24. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber open through the peripheral portion of the wheel structure, a relatively stationary head in said annular chamber and having a supporting portion extending out through the open peripheral portion of the annular chamber, a flexible band encircling a portion of the wheel structure and tat covering the annular chamber in such encircled part of the wheel structure, a vane carried by the wheel structure and shiftable from a position clear of the annular chamber to a position intercepting the annular chamber and means for guiding said flexible band to bring the same into over-sliding engagement with the relatively stationary head and means for admitting fluid into the covered portion of the chamber.

25. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber with an annular opening and a flexible sealing band travelling with the wheel structure and covering the annular opening of said annular chamber through a predetermined arc of travel of the wheel structure, said band being guided to travel clear of the opening through another arc of movement of the wheel structure, a relatively stationary member positioned in the annular chamber and having a supporting portion extending through said uncovered portion of the annular opening and a movable abutment in the wheel structure and mounted to clear said stationary member in the rotation of the wheel structure and means for admitting fluid into the chamber.

26. Power apparatus comprising a rotary wheel structure having an annular chamber with an annular opening, a flexible sealing band travelling with the wheel structure and covering the annular opening of said annular chamber through a predetermined arc of travel of the wheel structure a movable abutment in the wheel structure shiftable across the annular chamber into engagement with said travelling band and. a stationary head in the chamber ported for admission of fluid into the chamber.

WILLIAM F. BROWN. 

